Apparatus and method for automatically removing data of mobile devices

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for automatically removing customer data of a mobile device are disclosed according to various embodiments. In one example, a disclosed method comprises: detecting a mobile device connected to a slot; automatically determining whether the mobile device is valid based on data in a file system; upon determining that the mobile device is valid, automatically determining an operating system managing the mobile device; and automatically removing customer data of the mobile device based on the operating system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for automatic data removal, comprising:
 a rack comprising a plurality of slots each of which is configured for holding a mobile device; 
 a plurality of connectors each of which is associated with a respective one of the plurality of slots; 
 at least one computer coupled to the rack, wherein each of the at least one computer corresponds to a subset of the plurality of connectors, and has a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing software for automatically determining an operating system managing the mobile device, and proceeding with either one of two erasure processes depending on the operating system of the mobile device to automatically remove customer data of each mobile device connected to the computer via a corresponding one of the subset of the plurality of connectors; and 
 a user monitor electrically connected to the at least one computer and configured for displaying information related to data removal performed by the at least one computer, wherein after removing customer data of each mobile device, a visual indication is shown on a screen of the mobile device to indicate a finish of removal of the customer data of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a scanner electrically connected to the at least one computer and configured for, for each of the plurality of slots,
 scanning a serial number of a corresponding mobile device to be held on the slot; and 
 associating the scanned serial number with a slot number before removing customer data of the corresponding mobile device. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of cable hubs each of which is configured for connecting a subset of the plurality of connectors to one of the at least one computer. 
 
     
     
       4. A method for automatic data removal, comprising:
 scanning, using a scanner, a first serial number attached on a first mobile device; 
 associating the first serial number with a first slot number of a first slot on a rack including a plurality of slots; 
 plugging a first connector associated with the first slot into the first mobile device; 
 loading the first mobile device onto the first slot; 
 automatically determining an operating system managing the first mobile device, and proceed with either one of two erasure processes depending on the operating system of the first mobile device; and 
 automatically performing a removal of customer data of the first mobile device via the first connector and a first computer associated with the first slot, wherein after performing the removal of the customer data of the first mobile device, a visual indication is shown on a screen of the first mobile device to indicate a finish of the removal of the customer data of the first mobile device. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 automatically generating a certificate indicating that the first mobile device has no customer data after the removal; 
 scanning, using the scanner, the first serial number of the first mobile device again after the removal; and 
 unloading the first mobile device from the first slot. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising, while automatically performing the removal, the following:
 scanning, using the scanner, a second slot number of a second slot on the rack; 
 scanning, using the scanner, a second serial number attached on a second mobile device; 
 associating the second serial number with the second slot number; 
 plugging a second connector associated with the second slot into the second mobile device; 
 loading the second mobile device onto the second slot; and 
 automatically performing a removal of customer data of the second mobile device via the second connector and the first computer associated with the second slot as well. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising, while automatically performing the removal, the following:
 scanning, using the scanner, a third slot number of a third slot on the rack; 
 scanning, using the scanner, a third serial number attached on a third mobile device; 
 associating the third serial number with the third slot number; 
 plugging a third connector associated with the third slot into the third mobile device; 
 loading the third mobile device onto the third slot; and 
 automatically performing a removal of customer data of the third mobile device via the third connector and a second computer associated with the third slot. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 automatically determining a built-in serial number of the first mobile device via the first connector; 
 automatically comparing the built-in serial number with the first serial number to determine whether there is a serial number mismatch; and 
 upon determining that there is a serial number mismatch, automatically reporting an error associated with the first slot. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 4 , wherein automatically performing the removal of the customer data comprises performing an update of software of the first mobile device. 
     
     
       10. A method for automatically removing customer data of a mobile device, comprising:
 detecting a mobile device connected to a slot; 
 automatically determining whether the mobile device is valid based on data in a file system; 
 upon determining that the mobile device is valid, automatically determining an operating system managing the mobile device, and proceed with either one of two erasure processes depending on the operating system of the mobile device; 
 if the operating system is a first operating system:
 determining a device mode of the mobile device based on the first operating system; 
 if the mobile device is in a recovery mode, flashing a firmware of the mobile device; and 
 if the mobile device is in a normal mode, determining whether the mobile device is activated or not, and if the mobile device is activated, perform a factory reset of the mobile device; 
 
 if the operating system is a second operating system, initiating a USB debugging mode and installing a data removal application on the mobile device based on the second operating system; 
 automatically removing customer data of the mobile device based on the operating system; and 
 after removing the customer data of the mobile device, displaying a visual indication on a screen of the mobile device that the customer data has been removed. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein automatically determining whether the mobile device is valid comprises:
 searching in the file system for a folder mapped to the slot; 
 obtaining a logical path of the folder; and 
 determining whether the mobile device is valid based on the logical path and a property display command. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein automatically removing customer data of the mobile device further comprises:
 upon determining that the mobile device is activated, performing a factory reset on the mobile device; and 
 flashing the firmware of the mobile device when the factory reset fails. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , wherein automatically removing customer data of the mobile device further comprises:
 upon determining that the mobile device is not activated, determining whether the mobile device has been wiped and whether the mobile device is able to be activated. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein automatically removing customer data of the mobile device further comprises:
 upon determining that the mobile device has not been wiped and that the mobile device is able to be activated, performing a factory reset on the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein automatically removing customer data of the mobile device further comprises:
 upon determining that the mobile device has not been wiped and that the mobile device is not able to be activated, flashing the firmware of the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein
 the mobile device is running an iOS operating system, and 
 determining whether the mobile device has been wiped includes checking PurpleBuddy key/value pairs on the mobile device to see if the mobile device has completed an initial setup process. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , wherein automatically removing customer data of the mobile device further comprises:
 if the operating system managing the mobile device is the second operating system: 
 determining a profile type of the mobile device; and 
 performing a factory reset on the mobile device based on the profile type. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein automatically removing customer data of the mobile device further comprises:
 upon determining that the profile type of the mobile device is a first profile type, overwriting the mobile device with random data and performing a factory reset on the mobile device; 
 upon determining that the profile type of the mobile device is a second profile type, overwriting the mobile device with all-zero data and performing a factory reset on the mobile device; and 
 upon determining that the profile type of the mobile device is a third profile type, performing a factory reset on the mobile device without overwriting the mobile device. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , wherein if the automatically removing customer data of the mobile device fails for any reason, a graphical user interface will display a reason why the process failed. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first operating system is iOS and the second operating system is Android®.